Oh, what do you do in the Winter time?

Have you noticed how few posts I've been publishing?  Well that's because I had to send my Mom back home, Joaquin back to work, and my two "big kid" helpers back to school - I'm wiping a tear.  I love 3 o'clock now because I know one of the girls will gladly hold Halle while they watch tv (our newest rule).  We're still having long nights that tend to stretch into long days, but I'm trying to stay positive realizing this to will pass.

Every now & then I squeeze in a nap and I'm especially enjoying the formula thing.  Halle's happier, I'm almost back to not wincing in pain when someone hugs me, and the best part of all is that this Saturday Joaquin is going to babysit Halle, Shelby, & Josh while I take Quinn & Jessi to watch the BYU Ballroom Dance Company perform in Pocatello.  I loved being on the team in college and thought it would be fun to reminisce with my girls!  I'm still in awe that Joaquin agreed to babysit (technically they're his children so it's not really babysitting is it?).  I'll be praying for the children though since I'm taking Donna & Jesalee with us - no back up for the big man.
Here are some fun pix of what we've been up to:

Shelby, Jade, & Josh love to run around without their shirts on (you know it's soooo hot in January).  I realize this will be more of an issue when they get older, but for now - it's less laundry.

Funny story, Josh has some boxing gloves and Dennis always tells us how they solved lots of issues when their kids were growing up.  If any of their kids were fighting they would send them outside with boxing gloves and that would solve the problem.  Well Quinn & Jessi were arguing over something when they walked in the door from school.  I told them to go get the gloves on and take each other out.  Instantly they laughed & grabbed the gloves - forgetting their argument.  I patted myself on the back for good parenting (listening to good advice) and told them to pose for a picture.  Then right after I took the picture Quinn cheap shotted Jessi before she had a chance to defend herself.  Jessi cried for about half an hour and wouldn't talk to her for the rest of the night.  So much for good advice.

Today I caught Shelby in the bathroom wanting to do her own hair.  I figured why not?  She ended up with about 20 clips & a big smile.

I survived the first Month

Here is my beautiful Halle Marie at one month old.  I love that she hasn't got the baby acne yet (in our family it always comes right before the blessing day-so I might not post many close ups in February)  This is one outfit I've had each of my daughters wear just because I think the color is so sweet.  My sister Lisa bought it for Quinn ages ago and it's got to be one of my favorites.

This month has gone by in a blur mainly because I can't tell the nights from the days.  There are a few things I've forgotten about newborns - whether consciously or not I'm not sure. 

1. The first is the eating every 2 & 1/2 hours.  During the day I can at least read to the kids, watch tv, or something while she's eating - but at night it's rotten.  I just can't keep my eyes open at midnight, 2:30 am, 5:00 am, etc.  If I lay down to nurse then she just uses me as a binki after the well has run dry and creates major tenderness.  I know this because I "come to" around 45 minutes after she starts with her still latched on - ouch.  It's not much better if I try to sit up because my neck gets sore from conking out, woops.  
2. The 10+ diapers a day!  Joaquin forced me to buy 4 packages of newborn diapers and I laughed at him thinking he was going overboard.  Now I've had to eat my words because we've bought 3 more.  She poops before she eats, while she eats, and after she eats. Sob, sob.
3. The hick ups.  You know how I loved the hick ups while she was "in the oven?"  Well outside they're rotten.  I'll just finish feeding her, tuck the blanket gently around, and lay her down when I hear the first hick up - GRR.  Either I bounce her for 5 minutes until they go away (and then she often throws back up the food I just gave her because her stomach's upset) or I latch her back on creating more of the tenderness issue.

You know I was laughing at myself because my sister Dana & I had babies on the same day around 8 years ago.  Jessi was my 2nd and Avery was Dana's 5th.  We both started nursing then Dana went to formula pretty quick (at least it seemed that way to my inexperienced self).  I thought, "Well gee Dana what's so hard about nursing?  You don't have to wash bottles, buy formula, and it's better for the baby."  Apologetically, I now realize why it's so hard:  TIME.  It takes at least half an hour to feed her every 2 & 1/2 hours where a bottle she can down the same amount in roughly 5 minutes.  When I'm on my way to pick the kids up or go to church I have to plan on having everyone ready 1/2 hour early so that I can feed her right before we go, and that's assuming my other children haven't gotten undressed or disappeared in that half hour.
Granted I've never been able to produce enough milk to satisfy my children before, I don't know why I was optimistically hoping this time would be different.  So to all you women who can nurse your children for a long time - I'm in awe.  To all the other women - I think you are great just the way "we" are!

Quinn & Jessi couldn't wait for her umbilical cord to fall off so they could give her a real bath.

Josh's new favorite thing to do is play games on Dad's phone.  So while I'm nursing, Joaquin has grudgingly -ha ha- agreed to teach him how to play.  I'm so grateful we've got a boy so Joaquin could share all his favorite gadgets with.

I had to put in a picture of Shelby having a tea party with her favorite Christmas present.  I figured out if I let her play with it in the bathtub where there is limitless water then it's lots easier clean up.